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Torbay Council have published (Wednesday 19 July) their proposals for new wards in Torbay. Liberal Democrats on Torbay Council have branded Conservative proposals for new wards in Torbay as gerrymandering. While the majority of wards stay the same the most controversial Tory proposals cut the community of Ellacombe in half resulting in an increase in the size of safe conservative seat Wellswood ward from 2 to 3 councillors. This Tory meddling also sees parts of Brixham cast off into the Churston with Galmpton ward.

Liberal Democrat ward councillor for Ellacombe, Cindy Stocks, said: “The Local Government Commission want any new wards to reflect communities. Despite this, the proposal to cut Ellacombe in half flies in the face of the principle. The ward and parish of Ellacombe sit in a natural combe and was originally Ellacombe Farm. The natural ridge of the Warberries copse makes a natural boundary. The community faces the town centre and so it is more logical for any expansion of the ward to include this part of Torquay rather than going over the other side of the hill."

Cllr Steve Darling, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Torbay Council, said: “We have worked with officers and have developed a proposal that more accurately reflects the way that Ellacombe and Torquay town centre interact. This new ward of Ellacombe and Torquay Central exactly hits the target of numbers of electors to councillors that the commission wish to see. It also more closely reflects the topography of Torquay and the way that people live their lives.”

A second amendment to be put by Paignton Liberal Democrat councillors would see the historic high street of Winner Street included in the Clifton with Maidenway ward. Liberal Democrat Paignton ward councillor Ian Doggett said: “Town centres can generate a lot of work for councillors from the traders. We felt that by including Winner Street in the mostly residential Clifton with Maidenway ward we could share the burden."

3.1 That, subject to the following changes, the Proposed Changes to Warding Patterns – Submission by Torbay Council set out in Appendices 1 and 5 to the submitted report be approved for submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England:

(a) move the whole of the Ellacombe Ward (Polling Districts DA, DB and DC) and Polling Districts LA and LB (Tormohun Ward) to become a new Ellacombe and Torquay Central Ward (8,190 electors, plus 407 from changes proposed in the Officer report, the proposed changes from Polling District LC to LB and BB to LB would not be implemented) – this will become a three Councillor Ward and the Torwood/Wellswood Ward would remain a two Councillor Ward (this change would result in the Ellacombe and Torquay Central Ward being on par with the average number and the Torwood/Wellswood Ward would be 5% over the average number of electors per Councillor);

3.2 That the Assistant Director Corporate and Business Services be requested redraw the 15 Ward maps using GIS to show the changes to the warding patterns reflected in Appendices 1 and 5 to the submitted report.

3.3 That the Assistant Director Corporate and Business Services be authorised to make any technical amendments to address any anomalies identified when redrawing the Ward maps.

Proposer Councillor Darling SSeconder Councillor Stocks

Agenda Item 14, Review of Electoral

Arrangements – Submission by Torbay Council

Liberal Democrat Group Amendment 2

Council Meeting

20 July 2017

(Amendments shown in bold text)

Proposed Amendment:

3.1 That, subject to the following changes, the Proposed Changes to Warding Patterns – Submission by Torbay Council set out in Appendices 1 and 5 to the submitted report be approved for submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England:

(a) move the whole of Winner Street from RD Roundham with Hyde to CD Clifton with Maidenway (235 properties/244 electors – this will result in the Roundham with Hyde Ward being 1% over the average and Clifton with Maidenway being 2% under the average number of electors per Councillor).

3.2 That the Assistant Director Corporate and Business Services be requested redraw the 15 Ward maps using GIS to show the changes to the warding patterns reflected in Appendices 1 and 5 to the submitted report.

3.3 That the Assistant Director Corporate and Business Services be authorised to make any technical amendments to address any anomalies identified when redrawing the Ward maps.

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